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Below is an excerpt from a recent "Clinical Practice Today" article. NASW Members can view the full article by clicking here (you must be logged in). Not a member? Join NASW

Therapy Not-in-the-Room

Part I: Behavioral Health Insurance Does Not Cover Phone Therapy

Bet MacArthur, LICSW

This month’s column was suggested by two recent, surprising instances of de facto malpractice that signal a need for clarification and education.

These case situations were intercepted and corrected, but they alerted our Chapter that Massachusetts social workers may not be sufficiently aware that phone therapy is to be avoided except in very limited cases; and that no current Massachusetts health insurance pays for any therapy done by phone.

To examine the matter, however, is to open up much larger topics addressing how therapy (and other medical services) are coming to be offered in virtual, not-in-person arrangements. This column cannot treat the vast landscape of that topic in much detail, but we can plant some signs to point us to future discussions of these important developments.